The meeting began with an urgent discussion about asbestos remediation in a school building, where a contractor inadvertently exposed hazardous materials while drilling through floor tiles. The discovery revealed older 9 by 9 asbestos tiles beneath newer 12 by 12 tiles, a situation that required immediate attention. The Gardner City Council discussed the steps being coordinated with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to rectify the situation. Remediation work was expected to be completed by the end of summer, with assurances that the issue was confined to a specific wing of the building, allowing other operations to continue unaffected.

Transitioning to housing concerns, the council examined the Housing Production Plan, which outlines goals and strategies to address Gardner’s housing market challenges. The plan emphasizes the need for affordable housing, targeting low-income households and those at risk of homelessness. Despite Gardner surpassing the 10% safe harbor threshold for subsidized housing units, the council recognized a persistent unmet housing need. The median household income in Gardner is lower than Worcester County’s average, with a third of households classified as cost-burdened. This situation has been exacerbated by steadily increasing home prices since 2012.

The Housing Production Plan proposes several strategies, including encouraging the reuse of existing housing stock, redeveloping sites, and making zoning changes to incentivize projects that address specific housing needs. The reestablishment of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity was highlighted as a promising development for enhancing home ownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals.

The council also reviewed the Municipal Surplus Property Plan, which evaluates municipally owned properties for potential redevelopment, particularly for housing purposes. The city owns approximately 212 parcels, and six have been identified for further study regarding their marketability for public bidding. The plan aligns with findings from a market feasibility study indicating a substantial increase in home prices and low rental vacancy rates, contributing to the housing cost burden faced by nearly one-third of Gardner’s households.

The city’s aging population and smaller household sizes have raised demand for low-maintenance housing options. However, large-scale multi-family development remains financially challenging, with no new projects in the past seven to eight years.

The council emphasized the need to reduce uncertainties for developers by preparing sites strategically and creating opportunities for development. This involves addressing zoning and ordinance barriers to facilitate housing growth. The potential for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development was discussed, which aligns with state regulations and city ordinances, offering a path to increase housing options.

Infrastructure challenges, particularly in downtown areas, were acknowledged as potential hindrances to development, despite the positive steps being taken. The council expressed optimism about becoming more business-friendly, linking housing development with economic growth. Addressing zoning and ordinances was deemed essential to meet the evolving needs of the community.

In addition to housing and asbestos issues, the meeting covered various ongoing projects. The South Gardner Village Center utility upgrades were discussed, with completed surveys forwarded to National Grid for electrical upgrades. The rear main south side project negotiations continued, exploring options for acquiring a necessary parcel. The downtown phase five CDBG project and Waterford Street Community Center fire system upgrades were also addressed, with ongoing discussions about funding and compliance with low and moderate-income benefit criteria.

Construction timelines for the Greenwood Memorial Pavilion and pool repairs were confirmed, with expectations for completion by mid to late fall. The meeting also highlighted the progress of the North Central Pathway Phase 2 and Keizer Culvert replacement projects, both of which secured funding through MassTrails and MassDOT.